Theater review: ‘PostSecret’ a powerful, immersive theater experience

Published: Friday, April 25, 2014 at 04:36 PM.

PostSecret: The Show When: Through May 4Where: Booth Playhouse, 130 N. Tryon St., Charlotte.Tickets: Start at $14.50. Go to carolinatix.org or call 704-372-1000

Charlotte is lending an ear to people’s never-before-told secrets, and maybe even telling a few of its very own. “PostSecret: The Show” is at the Booth Playhouse through May 4, and the Queen City has the privilege of being the first city to see this new stage production.

The show stems from Frank Warren’s popular “PostSecret” project, which he started 10 years ago. He invites people from around the world to mail him an anonymous postcard revealing their deepest secrets, and he then posts them on the PostSecret.com blog or includes them in his exhibits or books. And some of the confessions have been included in the play, which is an immersive experience that uses acting vignettes, projected images and video, and music.

Four people appeared on stage: actors JR Adduci, Kerry Ipema and Birgit Darby and guitarist Todd Murrary. The actors revealed various real secrets, sometimes simply reading the cards and other times acting out the story behind the secret in monologue form.

The secrets varied in emotion, from funny and light-hearted, to painful, shocking and dark, to hopeful and inspiring. They had to do with suicide, sex, rape, love, marriage, career, parenthood, childhood and more. The timing and arrangement of the confessions was well done, creating a good balance between humorous and dramatic. The audience alternated between laughing, cringing, gasping, groaning and being speechless in a matter of minutes.

The performers also described the creation and evolution of PostSecret and shared stories of how the project had made a difference in people’s lives. While it bordered on self-promotion at times, I still liked hearing these unique perspectives. Especially touching was how one sender’s confession of considering jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge led to a rally of support and awareness and the creation of “Please Don’t Jump Day” in San Francisco. In another case, a mom wrote that she wished there was a Santa Claus, because then her children would be able to have presents for Christmas. The PostSecret community responded by creating a PayPal account for donations to help her.

Real postcards were projected on screen with neat visual effects as the actors portrayed them, or sometimes they were just displayed during video montages set to live and recorded music. One segment played voicemails that people had kept from loved ones after they had died. There were also audio clips of various people reading secrets, as well as of Warren and students speaking at college events, and Warren voicing his realization of his deepest secret that stemmed from a painful childhood experience.

PostSecret: The Show
When: Through May 4Where: Booth Playhouse, 130 N. Tryon St., Charlotte.Tickets: Start at $14.50. Go to carolinatix.org or call 704-372-1000

Charlotte is lending an ear to people’s never-before-told secrets, and maybe even telling a few of its very own. “PostSecret: The Show” is at the Booth Playhouse through May 4, and the Queen City has the privilege of being the first city to see this new stage production.

The show stems from Frank Warren’s popular “PostSecret” project, which he started 10 years ago. He invites people from around the world to mail him an anonymous postcard revealing their deepest secrets, and he then posts them on the PostSecret.com blog or includes them in his exhibits or books. And some of the confessions have been included in the play, which is an immersive experience that uses acting vignettes, projected images and video, and music.

Four people appeared on stage: actors JR Adduci, Kerry Ipema and Birgit Darby and guitarist Todd Murrary. The actors revealed various real secrets, sometimes simply reading the cards and other times acting out the story behind the secret in monologue form.

The secrets varied in emotion, from funny and light-hearted, to painful, shocking and dark, to hopeful and inspiring. They had to do with suicide, sex, rape, love, marriage, career, parenthood, childhood and more. The timing and arrangement of the confessions was well done, creating a good balance between humorous and dramatic. The audience alternated between laughing, cringing, gasping, groaning and being speechless in a matter of minutes.

The performers also described the creation and evolution of PostSecret and shared stories of how the project had made a difference in people’s lives. While it bordered on self-promotion at times, I still liked hearing these unique perspectives. Especially touching was how one sender’s confession of considering jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge led to a rally of support and awareness and the creation of “Please Don’t Jump Day” in San Francisco. In another case, a mom wrote that she wished there was a Santa Claus, because then her children would be able to have presents for Christmas. The PostSecret community responded by creating a PayPal account for donations to help her.

Real postcards were projected on screen with neat visual effects as the actors portrayed them, or sometimes they were just displayed during video montages set to live and recorded music. One segment played voicemails that people had kept from loved ones after they had died. There were also audio clips of various people reading secrets, as well as of Warren and students speaking at college events, and Warren voicing his realization of his deepest secret that stemmed from a painful childhood experience.

The audience had the opportunity to share their secrets as well. They were encouraged to tweet messages using the #PSCharlotte hashtag, and these posts scrolled across the screen before the show. Prior to the play and at intermission, they could submit a confession, and some of them were read by the actors at the beginning of the second half.

“PostSecret: The Show” was a very thought-provoking, captivating and innovative theater experience that carried an incredibly important message. The production showed the audience that they are not alone in their secrets, and that there is hope even in the darkest of times. I left feeling inspired, empowered, encouraged and united with my community. It’s a worthwhile play that deserves to progress to a national tour.

You can reach lifestyles reporter Andrea Honaker at ahonaker@gastongazette.com or 704-869-1840. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/andi384 and read her blog at lifelessons.blogs.gastongazette.com.